Putting it All Together: How to apply to college, meet every deadline and still enjoy senior year! Mr. Bob Foltin Mrs. Sue Biemeret SHS College Counselors

What You’ll Learn Timeline for senior year Application timeline College application process Transcript request process Better understand how to make it through senior year!

NOW Finalize your college app list Last chance to take ACT or SAT Apply online at or Search for scholarships at

Timeline - Now Meet with college reps in CCC List posted in Naviance, in CCC and on SNN— changes daily so keep checking! 9/7, Period 3, University of Illinois [2104] 9/13, Period 1, University of Iowa [West Aud] 9/13, Period 4, Indiana University [West Aud] Get pass 2 school days prior to visit in CCC! Need teacher permission to attend. ✓ Visit colleges

Other Fall Events College Athletic Evening September 12, 7 pm, Wauconda HS National College Fair - 10/9 [Milwaukee], 12-3:30 or 10/10 [McCormick Place], 11-3 National Performing Arts Fair – 10/12, Roosevelt University, 6:30-9 pm CLC ICE College Fair – 10/20, 6- 8 pm

Timeline, Continued Attend Financial Aid Seminar 1/4 File FAFSA in February Revisit colleges – Feb/March Pick up Local Scholarship packet – March Decision Day: May 1st

What to Do NOW IF you need teacher/counselor recommendation(s), ask NOW!! [Give each recommender at least 3 weeks notice.] College recommendation form available in CCC or online at CCC website. Tip: Complete form once and make copies for your teachers Need help with Essays??? Attend a “Write Stuff” workshop in the CCC: 9:30am (late arrival) – 9/1, 9/9, 9/15 7:30am (2 nd day) – 9/7, 9/13 2:35pm (8 th hour) - 9/12

College Application Process Begin to complete online apps Tip: Make copy of every app you send Arrange to send ACT/SAT scores [ or IF you need teacher/counselor recommendations, ask NOW! Arrange to send electronic transcript from Parchment

College Apps, Round 1 Major Deadline #1: All public university apps must be filed by October 15th!! Includes application, transcript, test scores, any other required information [essay, letters of recommendation, etc.] Extremely crucial at Illinois, Indiana and Michigan…

College Apps Major Deadline #2: If you are applying Early Decision or Early Action to any college, plan to file complete application by October 15 th Remember that many of ED/EA apps require teacher/counselor letters, so be sure to ask by mid-September….

College Apps Major Deadline #3: ALL four-year university applications should be filed by DECEMBER 1 st Aim to finish the entire college application process Only exception: 2-year apps, which should be filed by March 1st

The Lowdown on Letters of Recommendation Check to be sure you even need a letter! Check college website. [There should be a reason you’re sending letter[s]. Be sure to ask teacher/counselor at least 3 weeks before any deadline Complete a College Recommendation Form [available in CCC or on our website], copy and give to each recommender Be sure to give recommender any additional required forms. Recommender mails letter for you, so provide each recommender with pre- addressed and stamped envelopes. If using Common App, “invite” teacher to write a letter online; you can complete request process online Be sure to write/ a “thank you” to each recommender!

The Common Application Attend our Workshop on Common App: 9/14, 8 th hour Only used by 450 schools Create account at: Make a note of your Common App ID Work your way down the left rail to complete every piece of the CA 99% of schools have supplements [usually more essays…] Last item on rail: SCHOOL FORMS

COMMON APP SCHOOL FORMS #1 “Invite” teacher[s] to write a recommendation for Common App This initiates process for teachers, who can submit letters online or on paper Tip: Speak with your teacher[s] before you invite them

COMMON APP SCHOOL FORMS #2 Under School Forms, invite your counselor to be a recommender— KEY STEP FOR Common App! [This will your counselor to submit your school forms online.] THIS IS ALL YOU HAVE TO DO TO SEND A TRANSCRIPT TO ALL COMMON APP SCHOOLS. [Greatly simplified process this year!! It’s FREE!!] Tip: Make an appointment with your counselor before you invite them!

Your Transcript: Registering with Parchment REGISTER WITH PARCHMENT.COM All transcripts sent electronically through Parchment [previously known as Docufide] Complete registration process by going to parchment.com NEW: Student or parent can establish account – Decide who will be ordering transcripts. Tip: If you have siblings following you to college, parent account might be more convenient. Tip: If you will be handling every detail of transcript process, set up your own account.

PARCHMENT.COM How to Register Click on “Sign In” in upper right corner of Parchment home page Follow prompts to complete registration process Required Information: , Password, Name [as it appears on SHS transcript], Date of Birth Optional preferences for other college info – we feel Naviance provides better info

Your Parchment Transcript First transcript you request goes to you in your Parchment account Tip: Use this as a reference tool as you complete your college applications Go to parchment.com and sign in using your and passwordparchment.com Search for Adlai E. Stevenson HS Tip: Be sure to check the SHS in Illinois!

Parchment Registering “Date started” high school is 2008 Student ID and Social Security Info is optional; Parchment stores data by name and birth date Transcript Authorization Form MUST be signed BEFORE any transcript will be released. Insert the PIN mailed to you by Parchment to accelerate this process An unofficial copy of your SHS transcript will be sent to your Parchment account. [This is not official; colleges receive updated official transcripts.]

Managing Your Parchment Transcript You can view, delete, refresh or deliver your transcript to colleges Tip: Refreshing your unofficial transcript can take hours and will update all info To send a transcript to college, click on deliver icon Tip: Icon is an arrow embedded in a box Follow prompts to search for college[s] Tip: Be sure you have the right college checked!!

Requesting Your Parchment Transcript BIGGEST NEWS: Most transcripts will be delivered FREE or at a greatly reduced price!! Due to contract between Parchment and the State of Illinois New fee structure will be in place after Labor Day so don’t request a transcript before September 6 th !

Three Last Words about Transcripts Do not send transcript to Common Application schools through Parchment!! Counselor will deliver all Common App transcripts at no charge Wait until you receive your PIN from Parchment to begin registration and transcript process! The earliest college deadline is October 15 th, so no need to panic about deadlines!!

Transcript Requests –One last thing… It takes time for Parchment to process your transcript… It takes time for the college to process your transcript request and add it to your electronic file, so… PLEASE wait 2 weeks before inquiring if your transcript has been uploaded into a college’s info system and attached to your application! “Electronic” does not mean “instant”

Big News from UIUC NO TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED IN APPLICATION PROCESS!! You will self-report all your courses, semester grades and senior year courses online If you are admitted and plan to attend UIUC, a final transcript will be required. UIUC app goes live on September 1st

Tips for UIUC Process Use your Parchment transcript as a reference tool as you complete your UIUC app Attend our Workshop on new application: 9/8,8 th hour in CCC

CCC Support Write Stuff workshops: 9:30-10:15: 9/1, 9/9, 9/15 7:30-8:15: 9/7, 9/13 8 th hour: 9/12 UIUC Application Workshop 8 th hour, 9/8 Common Application Workshop 8 th hour, 9/14 CCC Hours: 7:00 am – 3:30 pm